Through his sculpted copper plates, Michaël Cailloux expands the very notion of etching, turning the matrix itself into a work of art. Each creation begins as a traditional etching plate, intricately pierced and cut by hand, shaped with the precision and care of a goldsmith.
This meticulous work, inspired by age-old techniques such as ajouré en orbevoie, lends a unique dimension to his creations, where etching gradually transforms into sculpture. Once the prints are made, the copper plate begins its metamorphosis. Under the hands of the dinandier (coppersmith), it unfolds and gains relief. Hammered, chiseled, and sometimes polished, it blossoms into organic forms that catch the light and cast shifting shadows. Each sculpture is a unique piece, marrying the precision of etching with the expressive power of volume and form. Plant and animal motifs—hallmarks of Michaël Cailloux’s world—unfurl in baroque scrolls, playing on the contrast between fullness and emptiness. These poetic and daring sculptures offer a contemporary approach, reinterpreting ancestral craftsmanship while exploring the interaction between object and environment. They are sometimes enhanced with gold leaf or touches of color applied directly to the copper, adding a new dimension to these ever-evolving works.
